Post Match. Pies blitz Bombers. All comments.

[BazBoy]

The cream rises to the top they say

Sidey is definitely cream

[Pies4shaw]

^ And since the entire gameplan is built around WHE and Sidey clogging up opposite sides of the ground to prevent the opposition moving the ball forward wide, the chances of him being left out of the team (much before 2027) are basically nil.

[3rd degree]

What should be a regulation win is now a genuine 50:50 game. Bombers will be throw everything at us even though they are very unlikely to play finals.

They tossed a wet lettuce leaf.

[Horatio Fin]

They tossed a wet lettuce leaf.

[Piethagoras' Theorem]

Sidey has had patches of good footy but not sustained over 4 qtrs

I would hope that in a GF his good patches were for longer and used when the experience counts

In 2010 we won a flag with the experience on Lockyer and O'Bree in the grandstands.

With all due respect to those two. They were only ever C+/B players whereas Sidey has been an A for most of his career. His dualsidedness and fast decision making will be valuable going forward.

Yeah, respect to both but they aren't fit enough to tie Sidey's bootlaces. Like comparing 2 kingswoods to a statesman caprice!

[JC Hartley]

In the final game of the regular season, Collingwood blasted Essendon out of the game with a scintillating first half which set up the victory by 70 points at the final siren. From the opening bounce, the Magpies were allowed to do as they pleased in the opening quarter to capitalise on the meek, feeble and timid resistance the Bombers had to offer by booting 8 goals and opening a lead of 47 points at quarter time. The second term saw the Pies increase their lead gradually by 11 points, which made the overall margin of 58 points at half time. The last two quarters were particularly dull, uninspiring and lifeless, with the third quarter seeing the Bombers miss their opportunities while the Woods took their chances to eke their half time lead out further to 65 points at three quarter time, before Collingwood closed out the contest by winning every quarter, of which included the fourth quarter by 5 points to round out the game as victors by 70 points and secure the minor premiership leading into the finals.

Collingwood won most of the key statistical categories from their victory over the Bombers, which included disposals by +6 (396 - 390), +9 for kicks (229 - 220), contested possessions were won by +14 (124 - 110), while clearances had a reading of +6 (32 - 26), centre clearances had an advantage of +2 (9 - 7), and stoppage clearances were claimed by +4 (23 - 19). Tackles went Collingwood's way by +9 ( 68 - 59 ), with Tackles Inside 50 up by +11 (17 - 6), while contested marks were won by +1 ( 8 - 7 ), and Inside 50s had a margin of +17 (56 - 39). Essendon's advantages came from handballs by +3 (170 - 167), uncontested possessions were won by +9 (279 - 270), intercept possessions had an advantage of +5 (66 - 61), while recording a deficit of -6 from turnovers (60 - 66). Hit-outs had a gap of +10 (36 - 26), while marks were won by +15 (121 - 106), with +16 for uncontested marks ( 114 - 98 ), and intercept marks had a reading of +5 (66 - 61). Both teams split Marks Inside 50 (14 apiece) for the game.

Tom Mitchell (33 disposals @ 79%, 186 metres gained, 10 contested possessions, 23 uncontested possessions, 11 kicks, 22 handballs, 3 marks, 6 tackles, 4 score involvements, 7 clearances, 6 stoppage clearances, 2 Rebound 50s & 1 goal) got his hands dirty by winning the ball at ground level, tackled with intent, and cleared the ball from congestion where he released his team's runners on the outside of the contest.

Jordan De Goey (27 disposals @ 74%, 524 metres gained, 6 contested possessions, 21 uncontested possessions, 17 kicks, 10 handballs, 5 marks, 3 tackles, 1 goal assist, 7 score involvements, 4 clearances, 2 centre clearances, 2 stoppage clearances, 8 Inside 50s & 1 goal) got the team going with the opening goal of the game, before creating additional scoring opportunities for his forwards who were able to finish off his hard work.

Josh Daicos (25 disposals @ 76%, 367 metres gained, 5 contested possessions, 20 uncontested possessions, 3 intercept possessions, 12 kicks, 13 handballs, 7 marks, 2 tackles, 6 score involvements, 4 Inside 50s & 1 goal) produced a quality performance on the wing in his 100th game, by running hard both ways to take marks, conjured meaningful territory when he won the ball, and impacted the scoreboard.

Scott Pendlebury (21 disposals @ 71%, 219 metres gained, 7 contested possessions, 14 uncontested possessions, 7 kicks, 14 handballs, 3 marks, 6 tackles, 1 goal assist, 3 score involvements, 4 clearances, 2 centre clearances, 2 stoppage clearances, 2 Inside 50s, 3 Rebound 50s & 1 goal) played a similar role to Tom Mitchell, where he fed the ball to his teammates from the packs, and continued dishing off handpasses to players who could run and break lines from defence when the team were transitioning the football from the defensive half into their forward half.

Jack Crisp (21 disposals @ 71%, 455 metres gained, 8 contested possessions, 13 uncontested possessions, 13 kicks, 8 handballs, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 1 goal assist, 5 score involvements, 3 clearances, 2 stoppage clearances & 6 Inside 50s) was given an opportunity to be more aggressive in the midfield by winning the contested ball, before getting on the end of handpasses or kicks from where he would either maintain possession or play brave and bold footy through the corridor to create scoring chains.

Will Hoskin-Elliott (20 disposals @ 75%, 417 metres gained, 4 contested possessions, 16 uncontested possessions, 5 intercept possessions, 17 kicks, 3 handballs, 10 marks, 3 score involvements & 5 Inside 50s) started in defence and had stints while he was in there, before moving up to the wing where he combined his marking with effective kicks adding more time in Collingwood's forward half and producing entries in the process.

Steele Sidebottom (19 disposals @ 79%, 248 metres gained, 4 contested possessions, 15 uncontested possessions, 5 intercept possessions, 13 kicks, 6 handballs, 6 marks, 3 score involvements, 2 Inside 50s & 2 Rebound 50s) used his work rate to his advantage to make himself a marking option on the wing before maintaining possession effictively by foot or hand.

Taylor Adams (19 disposals @ 58%, 291 metres gained, 8 contested possessions, 11 uncontested possessions, 11 kicks, 8 handballs, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 1 goal assist, 5 score involvements, 3 clearances, 2 stoppage clearances & 4 Inside 50s) had stints in the midfield and up forward with some effectiveness in where he created scoring chains from some of his possessions, while his ball use in general play was lamentable and wayward.

Darcy Cameron (11 disposals @ 64%, 169 metres gained, 15 hit-outs, 6 contested possessions, 5 uncontested possessions, 7 kicks, 4 handballs, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 1 goal assist, 2 score involvements, 2 clearances, 2 stoppage clearances, 3 Inside 50s & 1 goal) did not reach lofty heights with his latest performance, but he still gave his midfield enough opportunities to win the ball from clearances and create forward entries.

Mason Cox (11 disposals @ 64%, 164 metres gained, 11 hit-outs, 7 contested possessions, 4 uncontested possessions, 3 intercept possessions, 6 kicks, 5 handballs, 4 marks, 3 contested marks, 1 goal assist, 4 score involvements, 2 clearances, 2 stoppage clearances, 3 Inside 50s & 2 Rebound 50s) was competitive in the ruck without being dominant, while his contested marking was an impressive feature of his game.

John Noble (21 disposals @ 86%, 291 metres gained, 3 contested possessions, 18 uncontested possessions, 2 intercept possessions, 10 kicks, 11 handballs, 5 marks, 3 tackles, 1 goal assist, 4 score involvements & 5 Rebound 50s) demonstarated his ability to use the ball exceedingly well when exiting the footy from the back pocket by foot to teammates who would take marks at half-back, while Noble also looked to feed out handpasses to teammates to run the ball by hand out of defence until there was a player who had time and space to kick the ball.

Brayden Maynard (21 disposals @ 90%, 344 metres gained, 6 contested possessions, 15 uncontested possessions, 5 intercept possessions, 15 kicks, 6 handballs, 7 marks, 6 tackles, 4 score involvements, 2 clearances, 2 stoppage clearances, 2 Inside 50s & 4 Rebound 50s) had a highly effective and accurate game in defence where he hit the vast majority of his targets, took his marks when they were on offer, and tackled with intensity.

Jeremy Howe (20 disposals @ 85%, 324 metres gained, 3 contested possessions, 17 uncontested possessions, 4 intercept possessions, 13 kicks, 7 handballs, 6 marks, 3 tackles, 2 score involvements & 6 Rebound 50s) provided stability and structure behind the ball with steady and effective ball use, while bringing his marking attributes to the table where it mattered most.

Oleg Markov (19 disposals @ 95%, 391 metres gained, 4 contested possessions, 15 uncontested possessions, 3 intercept possessions, 11 kicks, 8 handballs, 7 marks, 2 score involvements, 3 Inside 50s & 4 Rebound 50s) was prepared to take the game on at all costs by generating serious running power out of defence, while his work rate to run into space to take marks was noticeable, before using the ball effectively and accurately towards his team's advantage.

Isaac Quaynor (18 disposals @ 89%, 308 metres gained, 7 contested possessions, 11 uncontested possessions, 9 intercept possessions, 13 kicks, 5 handballs, 8 marks & 5 tackles) intercepted every Essendon kick with excellent marking, before creating serious rebounding territory with his foot skills.

Jack Ginnivan (17 disposals @ 82%, 387 metres gained, 5 contested possessions, 12 uncontested possessions, 12 kicks, 5 handballs, 5 marks, 2 Marks Inside 50, 3 goal assists, 6 score involvements, 4 Inside 50s & 3 goals) ignited the crowd with two goals in the first term, while creating assists that resulted in goals to other teammates. Ginnivan's work rate was at a high level and standard, which should see him continue his renaissance at AFL level, after it was feared that he may not have returned at all at various stages during this season.

Patrick Lipinski (16 disposals @ 69%, 116 metres gained, 5 contested possessions, 11 uncontested possessions, 2 intercept possessions, 9 kicks, 7 handballs, 3 marks, 2 tackles, 1 goal assist, 6 score involvements, 3 Inside 50s & 1 goal) accumulated possessions up forward without any significant territory attached to them, but he did get involved and contributed to scoring chains, while snapping a goal leading into half time.

Brody Mihocek (14 disposals @ 86%, 193 metres gained, 5 contested possessions, 9 uncontested possessions, 3 intercept possessions, 11 kicks, 3 handballs, 8 marks, 2 contested marks, 4 Marks Inside 50, 3 tackles, 1 goal assist, 7 score involvements & 3 goals) gave his team a focal point up forward where he was able to complete his marks up forward, before going back and converting his opportunities in front of goal.

Bobby Hill (12 disposals @ 67%, 177 metres gained, 5 contested possessions, 7 uncontested possessions, 3 intercept possessions, 9 kicks, 3 handballs, 3 marks, 2 goal assists, 6 score involvements, 3 Inside 50s & 1 goal) was as lively as ever where he used his foot speed running back towards goal to set them up or kick a goal himself, which he achieved during a largely barren third quarter where goals had dryed up.

Jamie Elliott (8 disposals @ 62%, 108 metres gained, 3 contested possessions, 5 uncontested possessions, 4 kicks, 4 handballs, 4 marks, 4 Marks Inside 50, 2 tackles, 2 Tackles Inside 50, 3 score involvements & 2 goals) looked set to have a huge night with an impressive showing up forward, although he missed a couple of shots that did not make the distance. Elliott sustained a corked hip which saw him subbed out of the game in the second half for Finlay Macrae.

Collingwood's next game will be against Melbourne on September 7 at the MCG. This is it! The moment we've all been waiting for. The Magpies will look to exorcise their demons against the Demons and attempt to achieve victory, which will allow the Pies to have the week off and stay in Melbourne without going interstate during the finals series.

[Pies2016]

^^^

As always, appreciate your work, J C H.

[think better]

Great summary as always JCH - how did you rate Finn's game. I thought he got better the longer he was on the ground and was pretty effective in close.